I have one. Some initial problems with fret buzz and tuning stability, but a bit of attention from a luthier sorted things out. Great looking guitar, and plays great too. Incredible value if you want that unique Gretsch vibe without breaking the bank. These mods make sense, even though the guitar works fine as is.
Hey Robert ' Keith here from pemba I'm a 14 yr old boy I have a orange Gretsch 5420-tg and a white 5422-tg I love country and rockabilly music, My dream is to move to the US and become a professional musician. I think the electromatic series of guitars are great guitars hope you are enjoying yours.
I have the same but in White/Gold and I just love it. I also changed the running machines. And in my case, I changed also the pickups for a couple of TV Jones T-Armond, and the sound is quite amazing.
I have this same guitar, Love it! I switched out the neck pickup for the TV Jones Classic and I did a Power Tron Plus for the bridge and it really made the guitar come alive! TV Jones Pick ups really have that warmth that is hard to beat. Don't get me wrong, the Black Tops sounded good but they just didn't have that classic Gretsch sound I wanted in the neck position. The Power Tron Plus is awesome! It has the bite of a full humbucker but still has that TV Jones clarity and sparkle. What was the part number on the tuners you used? I am wanting locking tuners but not wanting to drill new holes into the back of the headstock.
TV Jones are great and the company has amazing support. I've called and emailed for advice and they are awesome. I went with Powertron in bridge and neck, but may swap out to Classic Plus and Classic. Not sure yet. Another cool mod is the variable treble bleed.
You should have installed a roller bridge too, it would have improved tuning stability even more...All my Bigsby-equipped guitars have roller bridges, tusq nuts ( makes a HUGE difference ) and locking tuners... Beautiful Gretsch 🙂🙂
@@lunkercarp Makes sense 🙂🙂 it's just that I professionally design, build and repair guitars so I tend to overdo things 🙂 sometimes...I also tend to push my Bigsbys a bit harder than most people, so...
@Jérôme Wagschal agree. I also do all my setups on all my guitars, other than replacing frets...I've done it all. Not a high end Gretsch...but I like it , use to have Monkeys Gretsch, but I like the center block over hollow body myself.
Thank you Rex....I'm definitely not a luthier. But I do enjoy working on my own guitar's. I usually say when I buy them that I won't do anything to them...but I usually do LOL
Hi there, I've read through the comments and read that in some comments you said Full size locking tuners and in other comments you said Easy Post tuners... I'm looking on Amazon and I see two different products. One that says EZ post and one that says Full size locking tuners. The item descriptions for the Wilkinsons Roto ez post tuners say that they are actually not locking tuners..... So my question is, do you have a direct link to the ones you purchased? I could've just said that to begin with, but I want to make sure I'm getting the right product and I don't want to have to do any type drilling on my Gretsch. Thank you so much for sharing and posting this info!
Sorry so late getting back to you..they are Wilkinson locking tuners, Jin-Ho mini's 3x3 ..3Rx 3L 19-1 ratio tuning machines, Gold. Got them from Reverb .Com. Item # 26983014. hope this helps.they are straight drop in ...no drilling or reaming necessary. One post I made a typo and wrote 15-1 ratio..that was incorrect.
You didn’t say anything about the Bigsby. Does yours stay in tune while using it? I’ve never played a Bigsby that allowed the guitar to remain in tune without some work with the nut, bridge, and/or adding a String Butler. I’d be interested to know about your Bigsby and tuning.
After installing locking tuners, I lightly filed nut slots and used nut sauce on the nut and my strings are string joy , there pretty smooth on outside of strings so as not to bind any at nut.. So answer is..no mine stays pretty much in tune. But I don't bend heavily. And I also do all setups on all my guitars 🎸 and I don't stop till they perform the way I want them, some take more time than others, but in the end I'm usually quite satisfied.
Thanks for the info Robert !! I've ordered this model (G5655TG) in Cadillac Green. I'm a beginner guitarist - so i wanted to get the right guitar from the start. I want it to "twang" & i want it to rock - which this one does being semi-hollow. It's also light & small - so it will be perfect for a beginner. The 2 issues i've heard over & over with this guitar are the 2 issues you've fixed!! What was the cost of the Vibramate & the locking tuners?? Thanks, Tiger.
Hello Bob, Just wanted to check with you on the Wilkinson tuners for the gretsch G5655TG. Are they holding up? Are these the same one carried by Reverb? I had the Imperial finish one set up by Guitar Center…..with no tuner changes…..still sounds “sour” if you know what I mean. Thanks for your help. Stay safe. Regards, Les
Actually was just playing my Gretsch yesterday and today...and holds tune great even after using tremolo. I usually setup all of my guitars myself..so I usually finely or lightly file nut slot enough that stings will not catch, nice and smooth slots and all my electrics have locking tuners and all hold up well on tunings. but I don't use tremolo excessively, as in dive bombs..just used to flavor the chords.
Hi again, Just a side note,…..You’re great, nice person…..someone else would have ignored me. Thank you. I play my Gretsches every day….Today I got out my Gibson Midtown w/bigsby just for a change………similar to the 5655 in size with a double cutaway. Again , thank you so much.
I'm sure the 6659 is probably a better guitar at probably 2 to 3 times the price ...but if it's the sound your looking for, the 6659 has FullTrons and the 5655 has Broadtron pickups which I really like the mid range punch they have ,unlike the sound of my LesPaul's. But honestly I would love to own a 6659 if I had the extra cash because it is truly an awesome guitar, in the Professional series, the Broadkaster is a Gem .
Wilkinson Jin Ho Mini LOCKING Guitar Tuners 3x3 3L+3R Tuning Machines 19:1 Ratio - GOLD reverb.com/item/26983014-wilkinson-jin-ho-mini-locking-guitar-tuners-3x3-3l-3r-tuning-machines-19-1-ratio-gold? Sorry I didn't respond sooner to your request, forgot to find link for you. Sure hope it's not to late , let me know if this helps, or if I was to late.
@@lunkercarp thanks for the reply que i appreciate your attention.. Do you know how to lower the bigsby tremolo arm….it’s too high an gets in the way unlike my 6120 and 6122
@@lunkercarp I think "that" was a huge mistake ! I know you seem to like the guitar you got but, most of the players I know will not buy a guitar made in China ! I think Gretsch seriously fu@ked up with that move ! They were just having some success in rebuilding their brand. Then they do some stupid shit like this ! Who do they think they are ? Gibson ? I think Fred Gretsch is letting those people at Fender make him abandon his better judgment. He reacquired the brand to keep the tradition alive, so he said at the time. Looks like all that shits out the window now ! It's what happens when you listen to corporate assholes ! You loose your soul !
On Amazon...I believe they were...just type in...Wilkinson locking tuners 3x3 Roto style full size locking guitar tuners Gold and it should bring them up in your search...hope this helps
@@lunkercarp Thanks! Any idea what model number etc? I have a 5420 and I wonder if its tuner holes are smaller than yours? Mine has the open vintage style?
I just got a new Gretsch 5427TG Electromatic , I haven't see this model anywhere is dark blue with gold hardware beautiful guitar anybody familiar with this model ?
